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Wednesday, September 23, 2015

My Downton Abbey Experience

Hello, Dear Ones! Well, I thought I would go ahead and share my Downton experience with you now. This is a bit out of order as we did this on September 18th. Okie dokie...I didn't take the snap below.

We just love Downton Abbey, don't we? When we planned our trip to England I had no idea where Downton Abbey (Highclere Castle) was located so we hadn't planned to try and see it. When we got to Basinstoke I Googled and found out it was only 16 miles from our hotel!

16 miles, people!! 16 miles!!

We poked it into the GPS and hopped into the car and off we went!!

These are snaps of the country roads to the castle. Just gorgeous, don't you think?

Look! Oh, my tiny heart was just a poundin'! I was so very excited!

Then there it was! THE SIGN!! Woo hooness to the 10th!!! Did I tell you I was excited?

We drove in through the driveway and the gate was closed. No biggie. I didn't like the looks of those warning looking triangles. I popped out of the car so fast with my camera in hand. There was a little car with a lady guard in it and she began to get out of her car. She asked if she could help me. Of course! I was here to take a few snaps of Highclere Castle. She smiled sweetly and said I couldn't because the tours were closed for the season. What? Had I heard her correctly? Yep! I heard her just right. I asked if there was any place I could take a snap anywhere else without going through the gate? She said no. I put on my most saddest face that I could muster up and said, I came all the way from Texas. Didn't tell her I'd been living in New York for a year. She smiled again, I'm sorry, she said.

I was devastated! I couldn't believe it! I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach! I felt like crying, I really did! I had been so excited and up on the ceiling and now I was tossed, very hard, to the ground! I was broken. I had not seen that stupid sign there:

CASTLE AND GARDENS

CLOSED

TO THE PUBLIC

Mr. Precious felt sorry for me, I could tell. I don't do well when I know someone feels sorry for me. My mind went into a fuzz. He tried to cheer me up by driving me around the beautiful countryside. I didn't even see it. I held my camera up and snapped a bit here and there but really didn't look. I pouted my hardest for about three hours! Finally I realized it was not doing me any good and I was going to have to get over my funk!

So my darling, Dear Ones, that's my Downton Abbey experience. Quite a dud, don't you think? And to add to my injured mind and heart, that stupid Downton Abbey show decided to air the first show of the season in the UK on Sunday night!! How dare they! Did I watch it? Of course not! I would not give it the satisfaction of knowing I gave in and couldn't wait! Poop, I'll wait till the cows come and and watch it here in America in January! So there! I have to admit I said Poop quite a bit. I do think it helped me! ;) I'll continue to love watching this last season of Downton, but I'm in a funk again so I've made me a new header and am turning off my puter and gonna go watch a horror movie on Netflix! That'll do it! ;)

Be a bunch of sweeties,

Shelia ;)

I'll leave you with a little Note Song ~

I'm Not In Love

I'm not in loveSo don't forget itIt's just a silly phase I'm going throughAnd just becauseI call you upDon't get me wrong, don't think you've got it madeI'm not in love, no no, it's because..

I like to see youBut then againThat doesn't mean you mean that much to meSo if I call youDon't make a fussDon't tell your friends about the two of usI'm not in love, no no, it's because..

I keep your pictureUpon the wallIt hides a nasty stain that's lying thereSo don't you ask meTo give it back I know you know it doesn't mean that much to meI'm not in love, no no, it's because..

Ooh you'll wait a long time for meOoh you'll wait a long timeOoh you'll wait a long time for meOoh you'll wait a long time

I'm not in loveSo don't forget itIt's just a silly phase I'm going throughAnd just because I call you upDon't get me wrong, don't think you've got it madeI'm not in loveI'm not in love

41 comments:

Oh now I really do wish I had known you were here, I could have taken you to Basildon instead! You were hardly any distance from me! So near and yet so far! Such a shame that it was closed, it is only open a little bit of the year and gets booked really quickly - Highclere -- from what I understand. Not fair for you! I will not tell you what happened on the season opener, but keep watching! xx

You have to think like Bugs Bunny . . . "Delivery for the castle!" they'd wave you right through the gates!Poor baby! I feel for you. All that excitement for nothing!

I was also let down by Downton Abbey this week, I had heard about the new season starting, and somehow I thought it meant here in the USA! I made snacks, settled down with the remote . . . and only reruns were on. I couldn't figure out why I thought the new season was starting, until I just now read what you said about it starting in the UK!!!! Duh. How did I do that?Oh well, be brave and . . . carry on.

Oh my no......I would have cried too! I suppose the saving grace is that you actually got to say you were so near the castle...it would have been amazing.The countryside is just stunning and I so thank you for sharing with us!

I feel like crying with you! I don't think I could have kept it together if I had found the Dowton Abbey and not allowed to even take a photo from the gate. Maybe you could have taken a pic of the guard!

Hi Shelia! The naps you took of the countryside are beautiful. About visiting the castle, next time will be good. Don't worry about it. And your husband, Mr Precious is awesome. You did well in resisting watching the new season. BRAVO!To answer your question: I am still working on 1 1/2 dolls, but very slooooooowly. I hope to see your creations soon.Hugs, Arlette

Okay, let's look at this from another perspective. You will just have to take another trip on the Queen Mary 2. That will be your "third crossing" and the third time is always the "charm" ~ right? And now you know the way there! I commend you for your willingness to wait for the season to begin here in the states. I probably would have caved and taken a peak. I don't even want to think of the show coming to an end. I am stocking up on extra Kleenex in advance ;-(

Oh Shelia, I am so sorry. We were in England in March but didn't even bother to head that direction. I know it wasn't open then either. Highclere is in such demand now. Also, just remember that you got closer than the rest of us. I'd wanted to go to a little village that is used for filming the dowager's house and the wedding scene, but didn't get there either. Still, there's so much amazing and interesting beauty and history, I'd probably take any part I could get, except maybe Blackpool.

Oh Shelia, I know exactly how you feel---bummed! We inquired before we left home about tours this past May--none available! How dare them! I do hope this didn't ruin your trip! I'm looking forward to hearing more! ♥

Oh Shelia, I'm so sorry you didn't get to see the castle! What a bummer! When we were in London many years ago, I wanted to visit Westminster Abbey, and apparently we were there the only day of the week they're closed to the public. I was bummed, too. From reading your other comments, it sounds like it's really difficult to get to see Highclere Castle these days (except on TV). Maybe in a few years you can try again. I know that doesn't help much right now, though. :)

I hope you'll share some more of your England trip with us -- would love to hear about it!

Aw, Sheila, so sorry you missed out on seeing the castle. To be so close only to have missed it. I would have been disapointed too. The scenery you took pictures of is so beautiful! How I would love to visit England! Happy Autumn, my dear!

Shelia,My heart just fell with yours, dear friend!!!That "Mr. Precious" is such a sweet dear husband!!!I know he felt almost as bad as you did, seeing your disappointment!!!When I watch the first episode of this last Season of Downton Abbey, dear friend. . .I'll be thinking of you. . .at the Gate of the Castle!!!Fondly,Pat

Oh no! What a huge disappointment. Gee, if you'd known you would have left a little sooner for your holiday! I do wish they would have let you take a few photos of the area -- but the drive there was beautiful. And perhaps you visited the town where they shoot the "in town" scenes (like Lady Mary's wedding.) I hope so!

Oh Shelia, I am so sorry that you couldn't gt in. To come so far and then ...... disappointed. I probably would have cried all the way back to the hotel. But, you did get to see some lovely country.I am really disappointed that this will be there last season. I love that show.Enjoy your wonderful vacation and have lots of fun.Mary

How dare they??? Don't they know that you did come all the way from Texas -- the long way -- in a snow storm -- up hill all of the way -- wore out a bathing suit swimming across the ocean, etc. ETC. ETC.!!!! Sally

How sad to be so near and yet so far, since the gates and castle were closed for the season. I believe the family lives there so they surely relish their quiet season. But I am certain if they had known it was YOU at the gate they would have let you in. :)

Oh dear Shelia, poor you not being able to go in. And poor Mr Precious with you sulking next to him for several hours, haha. I hope you enjoyed the rest of your holiday a bit better :)I live in New Zealand Shelia, not England, but it is a place I have always wanted to visit - but it is so far away. We do drive on the 'proper' side here in NZ though, the left hand side of the road that is.Enjoy your day,

Hi Shelia, OH I am so sorry you could not get in to see the castle. Such a poopin shame!!But the countryside is gorgeous and you captured some great photos.Love your new header and also your sweet little pic on the sidebar. I just love your hair cut.Have a great rest of the week and Happy Fall~~ Hugs, cm

Hi Shelia, It's been way too long since My last visit with You.I'm so glad I have dropped in after You've come home from England.I would have gone on that sweet side trip too and would have felt as disappointed as You did but what a dream to be in the English countryside. Hugs and blessings to You. Denise

Hi Shelia, It's been way too long since My last visit with You.I'm so glad I have dropped in after You've come home from England.I would have gone on that sweet side trip too and would have felt as disappointed as You did but what a dream to be in the English countryside. Hugs and blessings to You. Denise

Hi Shelia,So sorry that you were not able to see the castle. I did enjoy the pretty photos though. I love England and went on vacation three years ago. It's such a pretty place to visit and miss it so.Well Happy Fall and I love your new header.Take care and enjoy the fall weather as I'm from New York!Hugs, Julie xo